From 17 to 20 August 2026, Antonín Kouba and Anna Koubová participated in a follow-up workshop as part of a Czech Science Foundation project focused on studying viromes in invasive crayfish species and their potential role in the success of biological invasions. The workshop was held at the National Institute of Biology in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and followed on from previous project activities and a joint project meeting in Croatia in May this year.
The first day was devoted to the practical processing of samples intended for virome analyses. Following an introductory meeting, the programme continued with laboratory preparation of the samples, including weighing and homogenisation. The afternoon focused on RNA isolation and the subsequent assessment of RNA concentration using various instruments. The practical part of the workshop helped to harmonise laboratory procedures across the participating institutions and prepare samples for subsequent molecular and virome analyses.
The following day continued with scientific presentations and project discussions, including consideration of the applicability of different invasion hypotheses targeting the mechanisms that influence the success of invasive species. This was followed by a presentation of the project’s preliminary results and a joint discussion focused on their interpretation, further data processing and planning of the next stages of the project.
The workshop contributed to the practical coordination of research procedures and strengthened collaboration between the participating institutions. The experience gained and the joint consultation on laboratory methods provided an important basis for the next stages of the project, particularly the characterisation of viromes in selected invasive crayfish species, the comparison of virome composition under different ecological conditions, and further investigation of changes in viromes when different crayfish species occur together.
